SENATE Official Hansard
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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SENATE Official Hansard WEDNESDAY, 8 MAY 1996 THIRTY-EIGHTH PARLIAMENT FIRST SESSION—FIRST PERIOD BY AUTHORITY OF THE SENATE CANBERRA CONTENTS WEDNESDAY, 8 MAY Petitions— East Timor ......................................... 467 Census ............................................ 467 Notices of Motion— Gun Control ........................................ 467 Superannuation Committee .............................. 467 West Papua ......................................... 468 Budget Deficit ....................................... 468 Electorate Staff ...................................... 468 Order of Business— Hazardous Waste ..................................... 468 Education Funding .................................... 469 Education Funding .................................... 469 Unemployment ....................................... 469 Introduction of Legislation .............................. 469 Election Campaign Material .............................. 469 Sydney 2000 Games (Indicia and Images) Protection Bill 1996— Australian Sports Drug Agency Amendment Bill 1996— Crimes Amendment (Controlled Operations) Bill 1996— Health Insurance Amendment Bill 1996— First Reading ........................................ 469 Second Reading ...................................... 469 Consideration of Legislation ............................... 479 Notices of Motion— Introduction of Legislation .............................. 480 Committees— Victorian Casino Inquiry Committee— Suspension of Standing Orders .......................... 480 Procedural Motion .................................. 481 Motion .......................................... 481 Order of Business— Indexed Lists of Files .................................. 515 Matters of Public Interest— Days and Hours of Meeting .............................. 515 Child Care .......................................... 515 Pork Producers in Queensland ............................ 518 Mr Geoff Knight ..................................... 519 Questions Without Notice— Labour Market Programs ................................ 521 Unemployment ....................................... 522 Economy ........................................... 523 Public Service ....................................... 524 Darling River ........................................ 525 Taxation ........................................... 526 Sale of Telstra ....................................... 526 Sale of Telstra ....................................... 528 Women in Federal Parliament ............................ 529 Social Welfare ....................................... 530 Taxation ........................................... 531 Office of Multicultural Affairs ............................ 532 Taxation ........................................... 533 Economy ........................................... 533 Helicopter Crash ....................................... 541 Matters of Public Importance— Economic Growth .................................... 541 Personal Explanations .................................... 553 Order of Business— Film and Video Guidelines .............................. 553 CONTENTS—continued Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Amendment Bill 1996— In Committee ........................................ 554 Third Reading ....................................... 567 Committees— Membership ......................................... 567 Therapeutic Goods Amendment Bill 1996 (No. 2)— Second Reading ...................................... 568 Order of Business— Government Business .................................. 570 Governor-General’s Speech— Address-in-Reply ..................................... 570 Order of Business— Government Business .................................. 574 Therapeutic Goods Amendment Bill 1996 (No. 2)— Second Reading ...................................... 574 Documents— Consideration ........................................ 574 Therapeutic Goods Amendment Bill 1996 (No. 2)— Second Reading ...................................... 574 In Committee ........................................ 579 Adjournment— Whistleblowing ...................................... 581 National Schools Constitutional Convention .................. 581 Documents— Tabling ............................................ 584 Indexed Lists ........................................ 585 Questions On Notice— Importation of Pig Middles—(Question No. 2) ................. 586 SENATE 467 Wednesday, 8 May 1996 That the Senate— (a) notes, with approval, that the Tasmanian Parliament has acted promptly and properly to introduce stronger and more effective gun The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. control laws; and Michael Beahan) took the chair at 9.30 a.m., (b) calls on all State Governments to recognise and read prayers. this achievement and to seize the opportuni- PETITIONS ty of the forthcoming police ministers’ conference to agree on strong, effective and The Clerk—Petitions have been lodged for uniform gun laws throughout Australia. presentation as follows: Superannuation Committee East Timor Senator KEMP (Victoria—Parliamentary To the Honourable the President and Members of Secretary to the Minister for Social Securi- the Senate in the Parliament assembled. ty)—On behalf of Senator Watson, I give The Petition of the undersigned draws to the notice that, on the next day of sitting, he will attention of the Senate Indonesia’s continued denial move: of human rights to the people of East Timor. (1) The select committee known as the Select Your Petitioners ask the Senate to call on the Committee on Superannuation, appointed by Australian Government to: the resolution of the Senate of 5 June 1991 1. actively support all United Nations resolutions and reappointed on 13 May 1993, be re- and initiatives on East Timor; appointed, with the same functions and 2. actively support the right to self-determination powers, except as otherwise provided in this of the people of East Timor; resolution. 3. work for the immediate release of all Timorese (2) The committee inquire into and report on political prisoners; the following matters referred to it in the previous Parliament: 4. repeal the Timor Gap Treaty; and (a) the role of superannuation funds in the 5. stop all military cooperation and commercial governance of Australian corporations, as military activity with Indonesia. referred to the committee on 27 Novem- by Senator Bourne (from 364 citizens). ber 1995; (b) the implications of the enormous growth Census in superannuation fund assets in Australia, To the Honourable the President and Members of as referred to the committee on 27 the Senate in Parliament assembled. The Petition November 1995; of the undersigned shows: (c) the use of derivatives by superannuation That the current practice of destroying the funds in Australia, as referred to the Census is denying future generations an invaluable committee on 27 November 1995; and and irreplaceable resource of data on medical, (d) the Investment Committee of the Reserve historical, social, scientific, and demographic Bank’s Officers’ Superannuation Fund, as factors. referred to the committee on 29 Novem- Your Petitioners request that the Senate should: ber 1995. Request the Government to review its current (3) The committee have power to consider and policy of destroying the Census; and support a use for its purposes the minutes of evidence proposal to retain the census forms for release for and records of the Select Committee on specific research purposes in either 70 or 100 years Superannuation appointed in the previous time. Parliament. by Senator Bourne (from 223 citizens). (4) The committee consist of 8 senators, 4 nominated by the Leader of the Government Petitions received. in the Senate, 3 nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and 1 nomi- NOTICES OF MOTION nated by any minority groups or independ- Gun Control ent senators. (5) The nomination of the minority groups or Senator BELL (Tasmania)—I give notice independent senators be determined by that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: agreement between the minority groups and 468 SENATE Wednesday, 8 May 1996 independent senators, and, in the absence of Treasurer’s revelation of the Leader of agreement duly notified to the President, the the Opposition’s (Mr Beazley) $8 billion question of the representation on the com- black hole in the Budget, but in fact mittee of the minority groups or independent confirms it, and senators be determined by the Senate. (iii) the round-up specifically states that the (6) The committee elect as its chair a member economic profile of resumption of strong- nominated by the Leader of the Government er growth, incorporating a period of in the Senate. temporary weakness, outlined in the (7) The committee report to the Senate on or round-up was implied in the economic before the last day of sitting in December Treasury forecast of 12 March 1996 and 1996. so was fully taken into account; and (b) regrets Senator Kernot’s incorrect statement West Papua on such a vital issue as part of her improper Senator MARGETTS (Western Austral- political campaign to deny the reality of the ia)—I give notice that, on the next day of severe budgetary problems left by the discredited Keating Government and inherit- sitting, I shall move: ed by the first Howard Government. That the Senate— Notice amended by Mr President pursuant to (a) notes: standing order 76. (i) the inadequacy of the 1969 ‘Act of Free Choice’ as a genuine expression of self- Electorate